Four-wheel brake equalizer



April 2, 1935. p Q TROUTMAN I 1,996,263 I FOUR WHEEL BRAKE EQUALI ZER Filed 001;. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Shet l ajhalmz;

ATTORNEY April 1935- v P. o. TRO'UTMAN 1,996,263.

FOUR-WHEEL BRAKE EQUALI ZER Filed Oct. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ay f/zz'llqbdfkaa? INVENTOR ATTORNEV A ril 2,1935 I I P. o. TROUTMAN FOUR-WHEEL BRAKE EQUALIZER Filed 061;. 23, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fhz'llv 01 mm ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1935 a i 3:; i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ff V 11,996,263" I FOUR-WHEEL R aEQUALiiim j y I Phillip TroutmangPitt'sbur-gh, Pih, assignor to Bendix Brake Company,- South Bend, Ind; a

corporation of Illinois 1 Applicafirm 3; 1929, ,SriaiNo, 4101,7 70 14'Claims (Cl. 188-204 This invention relates to an, automatic. .brake 13; is connected with the clevls H! by the ends equalizer for four wheel brakes, the general iobof the shaft H and this casing surrounds the ject of the invention being to provide means toothed portions of the rack bars and the toothed whereby all four brakes are evenly applied when wheel, as-shown in Figure 3. ;A: spring l4 con- ;5 the braking system is moved into operative posi-, nects each arm 1 with a part 'on'the cross bar of 5 tion, even though the brakes are not adjusted the the chassis and tends to hold the arms in'upright same on all four wheels. w 1 a position. .i;j.1

Another object of the inventionis. tosocone A vertically arranged bearing l5jisi carried by structand arrange-the partsthatadjustmentcan the outer end of each section of the-shaft l and v be made by the owner of a vehiclewithout calling a vertically arranged trunnion shaft I6 passes 10 in a skilled mechanic. through each bearing and has its ends bent at This invention. also consistsin certain other rightanglespoutwardly, with-the extremities of features, of construction and in the combination said ends formed withthe spherical parts l1;

and arrangement of the severalparts, tobe here: I The rods 3, whichex-tend to the front and 16 inafter fully described, illustrated in-the accomrear) brakes, are each'provided with anrenlargepanying drawings and specifically pointed ;out in ment. l9 vhaving a spherical socket therein for the appended claims. l I receiving the spherical part H, the rods for :-the

In describing theinvention in detail, reference front brakes being connected-with the lower will be had to the accompanying drawingswhere: spherical partstand thegrods for the rear brakes 20 in likecharactersvdenote like orcorresponding being'connected wlth the 'upperzspherical parts. 20 parts throughout the several views, and in The brakerods-lllare connected at their outer which: ends (Figure 10) to levers 30 having camsf32 Figure 1 is an elevation showing ,a portion of a which serve to apply the brakesM against the chassis of a vehicle, with the invention thereon. actionofreturn springs-1H5. The return springs Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure '1". 36' are sufficiently. strong to return the shafts I6 25 Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1; 1 r to'theiraneutral positionswhenthe foot pedal Figure 4 isa section on'line 4-4 of Figure 3. pressure is released.-. g r 1 ,Figure 5 is a section onjline 55 of Figure -3. --.From. the foregoing-.itswill-be seenthat when Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view-showthe pedal is depressed, :therod 9 is moved foring amodification. g y wardly so-that' the toothedwheel' |2,will move 30 Figure'T-is a plan view of such modification. forwardly theraclc'bars 8,'=thus,rocking theshaft I Figure 8 is a section on line 8 ,8 of Figure 9, through means-ofsthe arms -l-so that va pullis Figure 9 is a fragmentary topplanview. exerted on the brake-rods l8 to apply the brakes.

Figure 10v is afragmentary side view of the 'If' on'eof the brake-bands should engage its drum.

brake applying connections. 1 iii-advance of "the otherbands, further move- 35 In these drawings, the numeral I indicates a merit of the parts connected-with this band will sectional shaft having its outer ends journaled bepreven'tedso that the rack bar, connected with in the side members 2 of the chassis of the vehicle, said band, would come to rest landthus cause the as shown at 3, with the adjacent ends of the two toothed wheel'to move over the same and thereby 40 sections journaled in a tubular part 4 formed .11 causesaidkwheelto advancelthe' other rack bar 40 a bracket 5 which is fastened tonne of the cross sothat the bands connected' withrsaid other rack pieces of the chassis.- An; arm 1 is connected with bar. I will be moved a greater distance than the each section of the shaft, one arm abutting one first barand'thus all the. brakeswilljbeapplied. end of the tubular part 4 and theother the 'op- Thus the deviceis automatic in operaion" and posite end thereof, these arms extending upwill applythebrakesevenly, 1evengthough'the 45 wardly and being pivotally connected at their, bands on the different wheels are, adj'ustedunupper ends with the rear ends of; the rack bars 8 equally The use of thisd'evice willptend to'pre- A rod 9 has its front 'endconnected with: the ventaccidents and will prevent undue wear of brake pedal or lever of the vehicle'and its' rear the tires'and brake .end has a'clevis l0 thereon, the rear end of which In the. modification shown" in Figures 6,7,1 8 .50

carries a stub shaft H which is vertically" arand 9,a cable lfl'f'and pulley Zn-are substituted ranged and which carriesa toothed wheelp-il2 for the rack-means, the cable havingits ends which meshes with the teeth of the rack'bars' 8, fastened to the arms 1-:by:the clevice's 2|; the

it being seen thattheserack bars are arranged cable pa'ssinga'roundthe pulleyand the housing at opposite sides of the toothed wheel. A casing 2.2- of the: pulley..being:connected to the pedal P,

2.25 so that when the pedal is depressed, the cable will rock the sectional shaft through means of the arms 1 and then, if one band engages its drum before he other bands, the arm connected with said band will come to rest so that the pulley will move over the cable and thus continue to move the second arm until the brakes connectedrwith said second arm are-applied. In other nemects, this form of the invention is similar to that first described.v

The trunnion carrying shafts can be connected to either the ends of the shaft I when saidshaft passes through the side members of filia -chassis; as shown in the first form of the invention or said trunnion shafts can ,be connected with the cross shaft an appreciable distance from the ends thereof, as shown in the second form of the invention, which shows the bearings'for the section" shaft arranged on the inner faces of: the side members of the chassis.

It isthought from: the foregoing: description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.v Y lt is to: be understoodathat: changes be made in the: construction and m-the combination" and arrangementiof the' severalparts,- provided that such changes fall within the scope of the-appended claims.

e v 1. Brake equaIizinQ-means a sectional cross shaft, means for supporting: the-same for rocking movement,v an. arm connected with each section of; the manually operated means including means foni-moving both arms simultaneously to rock the shaft and permitting one arm to be movedafter the other-arm ceases to move, due: to the brakes being. unequally ad'- justed, split cross bearings fixed to the outer portions of the sectionsofithe shaft, and trunnion members in the bearings having outturned extensions swiveled' to connections with the brakes. B 2. In-combination wima vehicle and-its brakes and the brake-operating member, asectionalshaft supported for rocking movement in the? vehicle, upper and lower -trunnions,'.. means detachably connecting the trunnions with each section of the shaft, brake rodsiswi'vel'ed t'othe .lowentrunnons andconne'cted with the brakes ofi one: pair of 1 wheels, brake rods swiveled to tlmupper trunnions and connectedwlth the brakesiof the other pair: of wheels, an A arm oonnectediwitlm eacnsection oi' the shaft,and means: "for commuting-the arms with the brakeapplying member whereby botharm's will be movedwsimultaneously by said member one am is prevented from moving by the application of the brakes conmmted there with, the otheriarm conti'miing to move until; the brakes connected therewith-are applied;

3. In combination: with a; vehicle-and its brakes and the brake applyingmembena sectional shaft supported for a rocking movement in the vehicle, a vertical bearing member connected: with each section, a vertically arranged trunnion shaft car ried by each bearing memberpthe ends: of each shaft being' bent ati-right" angles and having spherical: members atitheir extremities, brake: rod members having spherical sockets therein for receiving the spherical members',:the:rods connected with-the lower t'runnions bei'ngconnected with the. brakes of; one pair of: wheels: and; the: rods connected witlm the-"other: trunnionstbeing con-- nected witli the brakes'of the otherpair' of wheels, an arm connected with each section oft the shaft, spring: means connected with the arms and tend ing to hold them in a certain position, shiftable means connected with both arms, and means connected with the brake applying member and co acting with the shiftable means for actuating the arms.

4. In combination with a vehicle and its brakes and the brake applying member, a sectional shaft supported for rocking movement in the vehicle, a: vertical bearing. member connectedwith each section, a vertically arranged trunnion shaft carried by each bearing member, the ends of each shaft being bent at right angles and having spherical members at their extremities, brake rod members having spherical sockets therein for receiving the spherical members, the rods connected with the: lower trunnions being connected with the brakes of one pair of wheels and the rods conn'ected'with the other trunnions being connected with the brakes of the other set of wheels, an arm connected With each section of the 'shaf-t,.spring means connected with the arms and tending tohold them in a certain position, a cable having its ends. connected with the arms and apulley connected with the brake applying member and over which the cable passes.

5. In combination with a vehicle and its brakes and the brake applying member, a sectional shaft supported for rocking movement in the vehicle, a: vertical bearing member connected with each section, avertically arranged trunnion shaft carried by each bearing member, the ends of each trunnion-shaft being bent atrightangles and havingspherical'members at their extremities, brake rod membershaving spherical sockets therein for receiving the spherical members, the rods connectedwiththe lower trunnions being connected with the brakes of one pair ofwheel'sand the rods connected; with the other trunnions being connected with the brakes of the other pair of wheels,- anarm connected with each section of the shaft, spring means connected with the arms and tending to hold them in a certain position, a rack bar connected with each arm, a rod connected' with thebrake applying member and a toothed wheel carried by the rod and engaging the teeth of the racks.

6. A brake operating mechanism comprising a rotatable cross shaft part having two angle shaped arms extending from one end thereof, each mounted to swivel therein providing for angular movement of the ends of said arms about the'axis-of the arms.

7. Anequalized braking system including an actuating shaft; means for oscillating said'shaft, a housing secured to said shaft, 2, second shaft having a-bearing within said housing permitting oscillatory movement thereof about an axis angularly related tothe axis of oscillation of the first shaft, arms extending laterally from said second shaft, and connections from said arms to a pair of brakes.

8. An equalized braking system including an actuating'shaft, means for oscillating saidshaft, 'a housing secured to said shaft, a second shaft having a bearing within said housing permitting oscillatory movement thereof about an axis angularly related to the axis of oscillation of the first shaft, said second shaft having portions extending in opposite directions beyond said first shaft, arms extending laterally from said second shaft upon opposite sides of the axis of said first shaftgand connections from said arms to a pair of brakes.

9:. An equalized braking. system including an actuating shaft, means for oscillating saidshaft,

having a bearing within said housing permitting oscillatory movement thereof about an axis extending substantially at right angles to the axis of'oscillation of the first shaft, arms extending laterally from said second shaft, and connections from said arms to a pair of brakes. I

10. An equalized braking system including an actuating shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, a housing secured to said shaft, a second shaft having a bearing within said housing'permitting oscillatory movement thereof about an axis angularly related to the axis of oscillation of the first shaft, said housing serving as a means for maintaining said second shaft in predetermined angular relation with respect thereto, arms extending laterally from said second shaft,and connections from said arms to a pair of brakes.

11. An equalized braking system for operating a pair of brakes including an actuating shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, a second shaft connected thereto, 3 means for mounting said second shaft for oscillatory movement about an axis angularly related to the axis of oscillation of the first shaft, and a plurality of means having 1,99e,2es a housing secured to said shaft, a second shaft shaft to said brakes. 12. An equalized braking system including an oscillating shaft adapted to afford an equalized braking connection between a pair of brakes, and. means for returning said shaft to a predeter-' efiectiveconnections to said second shaft at pointsspaced from the axis for connecting said second mined angular position after the application of the brakes. I

13. A braking system 7 tion, an actuating shaft, anequalizing shaft, and means for'yieldingly urging said equalizing shaft to a neutral position. a

14'. In combination with a vehicle and its brakes and the brake applying member, a shaft supported for rocking movement in the vehicle, a

vertical bearing member connected with each end having spherical members at their extremities,

and tension members connected with the brakes,

PHILLIP o. TROU'IMAN. '25 V including, in combina' of the shaft, a vertically arranged trunnion shaft carried byeach bearing member, the ends of each trunnion shaft being bentat right angles and 20 

